Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-22
THAI MARVELLOUS METEOR.
Described by Maine Professor Who
Went in Search of 1t.

On thursday evening, September 18th,
at 8 o'clock local time, says the New York
Tribune, brilliant meteor passed through
the sky of this region, creating great ex-
element among the people. 1t was seen
by great many persons widely separated,
and must have Illuminated belt of coun-
try several hundred miles in width. 1t
was distinctly seen at Bangor, Me-, at the
Maine State College, by an astronomical
party, by many citizens of Vanceboro
Calais and other towns in Maine, by citi-
zens of st. Johns, McAdams Halifax and
other points in the provinces. The time
was so favorable that many were on the
streets and saw the illumination, if not the
meteor. The brakeInen on the trains were
particularly fortunate. The next morning
false report was circulated by party at
McAdams Junction that it had fallen near
that place, and was as large as a Pullman
car, and so hot that one could not get
within fifty rods of it,
Knowing that a meteor had fallen, F.
i. Harvey, Professor of natural history in
the Agricultural and Mechanical College
Orono, Me, took the first train to Vance
boro to learn, if possible, where it had
fallen, and, if possible, secure it for the
State College. kilograms were sent to St.
Stephens and Calais, Me-, and to Halifax
and Yarmouth, n. S, to learn whether it
could be seen, and in what direction, hop
ing to fix the direction OF its path. At
Orono and Bangor it was seen in the
southeast. At Fancehoro, Bridgewater
McAdams Junction and Calais it was dis
covered about twenty degrees east of
south. At Halifax it appeared to be
southwest at Carleton in westerly di-
rection. If these lines are traced on the
map, it will appear evident that the
meteor probably entered our atmosphere
near the boundary of the States and Prov
inces, and moved in a southeast Course
across the Bay Of Fundy and the peninsula
of Nova Scotia, and landed in the Atlantic
ocean. The time was estimated by vari-
Gus observers Us from two to three seconds,
and the size that Of the full moon or
s:sall wash-tub. Several believe they
heard distinct kissing or rushing sound
| Most of the Observers say il was a round
| BODY of Il deep red color like the sun in a
smoky atmosphere, and from this central
portion extended purplish tail several
times the width Of the body, and that star
| like scintillations were continually given
| off. Some competent Observers regard the
body as oblong, and one believed the OBJ
long mass was divided into two denser por-
! tons, separated by Il space of greater brill
/ fancy. The light given to the atmosphere
was considered purplish in color. 1t will
be interesting to learn whether 1t was seen
by shipping along the Nova Scotia coast.
The phenomenon has caused great excite
ment in that region, and has been the
topic of conversation since the fall. Many
were badly frightened, thinking that the
millennium had come, and numerous and
strange have been the queries and theories
regarding the origin and nature Of these
fiery bodies.
THE ADVANCE OF CHoLERA.-Step by
step the cholera is creeping through South
America, gathering force as it marches.
Beginning at Buenos Ayres, by the latter
part of December it will have crossed the
Argentine Republic and gained fothold 10
Chile. A telegram from Panama tells us
of its ravageS in that State, and we may
catch hint of their extent from the fact
that it has already been proposed that the
nation concede pension to the families
OF all who may die attending cholera
patients" The same authority informs us
that the people of the Isthmus are grow
ing alarmed, and that vessels from
Uruguay, the Argentine Republic, Chile
and Peru are not allowed to enter the
ports of Nicaragua, Hopduras or Panama.
These are serious signs, and matters of i'm
port TO other cities than New Orleans, and
other States besides Louisiana. For
should the plague reach the Isthmus and
Mexico, there will be small hope OF this
city escaping, and the food-gates of New
Orleans once passed, the Mississippi valley
and indeed the whole country, may be in.
undated with the disease before there is
time to realize the danger.-Near O1ledns
Neeiicat and Surgical Journal.